Foldable umbrella.



1-.' HLCOBEL. FOLDABLE UMBRELLA, APPLICATION F|LED NOV. 1.9. 1915.

Patented Feb. 27,1917.

IIIIIIIII dIlA 1/ awuzutoz Jazz/n11. 60562;

JOHN H. COBEL, s1 JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

FOLDABLE UMBRELLA.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 27, 1917.

Application filed November 19, 1915. Serial No. 62,362. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. COBEL, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri,have invented new and useful Improvements in Foldable Umbrellas, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The present invention has relation to umbrellas of that class which willnot only open and close in the ordinary manner but which also may becollapsed or folded and re duced in size to an extent for convenience intransportation and storage and further permits the umbrella beingcarried in a satchel or trunk.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of theabove stated character whereby the sections constituting the stickportions of the umbrella are so formed as to prevent any accidentalrotary movement of the sections, with respect to one another when thesections of the stick are in a folded position.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel features, details of construction and combination of parts whichwill hereinafter be more fully set forth, illustrated in theaccompanying drawing and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a vertical section of an umbrella in an unfolded position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of an umbrella showing the top openas in Fig. 1 with certain portions broken away for con venience ofillustration;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 7-7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail section of the runner in active position;

Fig. 5 is a detail longitudinal section of the rib sections; and r Fig.6is a detail cross section of the rib 45 sections.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 5 comprises an umbrellastick composed of an upper split tubular section 6, an intermediatesplit tubular section 7'and a lower 50 tubular split section 8, thetubular section 8 being provided with a handle portion 9. In crosssection the said upper-and intermediate sections of the stick arepreferably hollow andtelescopically arranged one within the 55 other andthe split longitudinal edges of the sections partially overlap oneanother as mediate section '7 within the upper section- 6 and preventthe intermediate section from any accidental rotary movement with respect to the upper section whenthe said sec tions are in either a foldedorextended position. The top section 6 is stamped out at pointsthroughout its length to provide an intermediate slot 11 and a lowerslot 12,

while the intermediate or middle section of the stick has secured to itsinner circumference by means of a fastener- 13, a resilient keeper 14adapted to engage in the slot 12 of the top section of the stick whenthe sections are in an unfolded position, and retaining the middlesection 7 and top section 6 against accidental movement- The lower endof the middle section 7 is internally threaded as at 15 for threadedlyreceiving the threaded extension 16 of the lowermost section 8 of thestick, and for operatively connecting the latter mentioned section withthe middle section.

Slidably mounted on the sections constituting the stick 5 is the usualrunner 17 which like the stick sections is circular in cross section andsplit throughout its longitudinal extent, the free longitudinal edgesformed by the splitting of the runner being partially arranged inoverlapping position to provide a longitudinally disposed V- shap'edgroove 18 of substantially V-shaped configuration in cross section. Theprotruding longitudinal edge of the middle and upper stick sections formribs 19, the rib 19 of the middle section engaging in the V- shapedgroove of the upper stick section, while the rib 19 of the upper sticksection engaging in the V-shaped groove of the run ner 17, whereby toaccurately guide the runner upon the sliding movement of the sticksections and also preventing any accidental rotary movement thereof,during the adjustment of the runner on such sections. This runner 17 hasformed on itsupper end a collar 21 formed with a series of spacedconcentrically arranged slots 22, certain of said slotshaving pivotallyconnected therein the usual stretchers :23, such stretch'ers havingpivotal connection at their opposite ends with the lowermost ribsections 2-1, which together with the upper section 25 comprises theumbrella frame. The uppermost rib section 25 embodies the usual steelribs now employed in umbrellas and has formed on its free end a knob 25which is slidably mounted in the substantially C-shaped lowermost ribsections 24: to make an easy operation of the same and preventdisplacement of the rib sections from one another when the umbrella ishoisted.

The uppermost rib sections 25 are pivotally connected in the notches 26of the enlarged circular head 27 of the plug 28. This plug 28 is ofcylindrical form and provided with external threads 29 for threadedlyconnecting in the upper threaded end 30 of the top stick section 5. Thisplug is formed with a centrally located internally threaded bore 31 fortl'rreaded-ly receiving the top of the umbrella and per mitting of thetip being detached from the plug 28 and permanently connecting the Icover 33 of the umbrella. The extreme lower edge of the cover 33 isconnected to the plug 3% of the lowermost rib section 24.

Pivotally connected in certain of the other of said slots of the collaris a spring pressed trigger adapted when the umbrella is in an unfoldedposition-to engage with the intermediate slot 11 of the top sticksection 6 of the umbrella and prevent any accidental movement of therunner with respect to the stick 5 and thereby holding the umbrella inan unfolded position as clearly shown.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawin the advantages of construction and of the method of operationwill be readily appar ent to those skilled in the art to which theinvention relates, and while I have described. the principles ofoperation of the device together with the device which I now considerextending V-sh'aped groove, the overlapped portions of the uppe' andmiddle sections also providing ribs, the rib oi the middle sectionengaging in the groove of the upper section for preventing anyaccidental rotary movement of the latter with respect to the former,means for locking the sections in extended position, a split runnermounted for a sliding adjustment upon the upper and middle sections ofthe stick, the tree longitudinal edges of the runner formed by splittingthe same being arranged in an over lapped position for providing therunner with a groove, the groove of the said run ner engaging with therib of the top section for guidingthe runner thereon, and spring pressedmeans pivotally connected with the runner and adapted to engage a slotin the top section of the stick for supporting the umbrella inanunfolded position.

In testimony whereof I have affixed signature in presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN H. ooBEL.

lVitnesses CHAs. D. WURTZLER, ALEX H. 'IVICDONALD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

